December Meeting

Discussion

Karen:
I hope everyone enjoyed a lovely (and delicious) Thanksgiving! It blows me away that another month has flown by. I am ashamed to say that I did not read the book this month. Somewhere between packing, moving and unpacking again, I didn't find the time, so I will not be able to really start the discussion. Reminder to Robyn to tell us all what book that will be!

Micah:
I finished the book here in Peru and I loved it. I can't imagine being in prison period...but for 11 years when you're not even guilty...and then forgive the person who put you there. Wow!!

I'm sitting here in Lima killing time while I wait for my flight to leave. I've only got about 5 hrs. This trip has been crazy!!!! I look like crap and I'm totally tired. In 2 weeks my Spanish has gotten worse...and so has my English. I'll write more and post pics when I get home.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

Robyn:
I found this an interesting and inspiring book with themes of redemption and justice. Oh, I just looked at the title again..."our memoir of injustice and redemption"... Like Micah I cannot imagine one, being committed for a crime I did not do and two, forgiving the person who wrongfully accused me.

The inconsistent and often inaccurate practice of witness line-ups has been in the news before. If I remember correctly the statistics indicate witness line-ups seldom target the right person. I thought it was interesting that even though Jennifer got a relatively good look at her attacker she still failed to identify him correctly (of course he wasn't in the line-up, which complicated the process...). I think people should be held accountable for injustice, but it is too bad that in the rush to find justice there are those that like Ronald are wrongfully accused. It seems Ronald was one of the lucky few that had family and lawyers not willing to give up the fight.

Okay, I deliberated long and hard to come up with a great book for a busy month. After many sleepless nights I have decided to make you all read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Don't let the premise deter you. It is a fast read (seriously, once you start make sure you have a concentrated amount of time because I guarantee you will not be able to put it down)! I read it with my son who was crazy about it. I made my parents read it and they couldn't put it down. I stood in a looooong line in Chicago to be one of the lucky few to get an advanced reader copy of the sequel (Catching Fire)...

Since Becca has all ready read the book choice for this month, would you tackle next months?

Ann:
Oooh I'm excited about December's pic, this is one of my niece's favorites and she even has a little club named after it, something like the Hungry Group...no that's not it (but it's a good one for us!). :)

I liked the book too and really can't believe how non-judgmental Ronald was toward Jennifer. He really was completely free from 11 years of injustice because he forgave her and went on with his life. I found it interesting that the community was still wary of him for a while anyway because he had been in prison. He's a strong character.

Becca:
I didn't manage to read November's book, but I did devour The Hunger Games and Catching Fire during November. Like Robyn warned, once you begin, it is difficult to tear yourself away. "One more chapter" quickly turns staying up all night to finish!

Jenn:
Hi everyone.
I have not jumped into bookclub yet, and have over 50 messages in e-mail that have remained unread for a couple of months. I'm just crazy busy with my family. I did read 1/2 of the "Prize Winner of Defiance" and enjoyed it. Lots of funny, crazy out of control situations that I could relate to. Also a good piece for a lot of recent historical socio-economical and marital standards discussions. I wanted to comment every few days about things I had read. Could we maybe do that instead of waiting until the end of the month when I've "forgotten" my opinions. . . . . .
Anyway, I still haven't read any book club responses, not even from Oct. 31st. TIME!!!! Where does it go.

I will be leaving in 2 weeks to go to Orlando for 15 days with my little energy packed family for a Disney Christmas. . . . . Don't worrry about me too much. I'm taking a stash of "chill pills" with me. I've spent hours planning the when and how of each park so stress (and finances) are minimized.

Lest any of you think we have fallen into some money, let me assure you. . . . A-hem. No, that is not the case. Six free Southwest tickets, and 2 years worth of our vacation property exchange to get 4 bedroom 3 bath units for two weeks. Grandma Johnson, Uncle Chris, and 3 year old cousin Arron are meeting us there out of London. Still a pretty penny, but not much more than spending a few hundred dollars in "disposable plastic joy" for each child.

It will be a blast. I'm bracing for a few "disaster" sequences. But all in all, if I can hold it together, then everyone can pull it together.
Think of me.
Pray for me.
Love you all.
Merry Christmas

Lisa:
I also have been wanting to read it. In fact, I bet Mica would like it, too. He is definitely my reader. A couple of weeks ago, for turn off the TV week, he got into reading about a book about every 2 days. I think Taran reads about a book every 2 years:). Anyway, I'm going Christmas shopping today, maybe I'll get Hunger Games for Mica for Christmas, then read it first.

I also did not read the book for last month...my local library is a little stingy (well underfunded is more like it) on what it stocks- and I didn't get a hold of a copy.

Recipes

Karen:
Best Pecan Yams
4 c yams, cooked and mashed
1 c sugar
½ c butter, melted
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

Topping
1 c brown sugar
1/3 c flour
1/3 c butter, melted
1 c chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350°. Combine yams, sugar, ½ cup melted butter, eggs and vanilla. Mix well and turn into a greased 9 x 13 glass dish. Combine brown sugar and flour. Mix well. Stir in 1/3 cup melted butter and nuts. Crumble over top. Bake 30-45 minutes or until set.

Robyn:
Cranberry Salad
2 pkgs cherry Jello
2 cups boiling water
1 large can pineapple, crushed, drained
1 can whole cranberry sauce
1 ½ cups celery diced

Dissolve Jello in water. Add other ingredients. Put in 9x9 pan and chill.

Ann:
Eggnog Spice Bundt Cake
1 (18 1/4-ounce) box spice cake mix
1 (4-serving) box instant vanilla or cheesecake pudding and pie filling mix
1 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup canola oil
1 cup light eggnog
1 egg
3 egg whites
1 1/3 cups toasted chopped pecans
Powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350F. Coat a nonstick Bundt pan with cooking spray. Combine cake mix, pudding mix, yogurt, oil, eggnog, egg and egg whites in a large bowl. Mix until creamy.
Stir in pecans. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 40 to 45 minutes, until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. When cool, dust with powdered sugar. Serves 16.

Becca:
Soft Ginger Cookies
¾ c butter
1 c sugar, plus extra
1 egg
¼ c molasses (black strap will provide richer flavor)

2 c flour (sometimes it needs just a tad more)
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp ginger
¼ tsp cloves

Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter, sugar, egg and molasses together. Add in flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves.

Roll dough into small balls (a bit bigger than a large cherry), then roll balls in white sugar.

Bake for 9-10 minutes, until cookies are flat and cracked in appearance, closer to 9 minutes for softer cookies.

Do not over bake! (They won’t be soft if over baked!)

Lisa:
White Bean Chili
1 lb boneless chicken, cut into cubes
1 onion, chopped
1 Tbsp olive oil

Saute until chicken is no longer pink

2 (15.5 oz) cans great northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14.5 oz) can chicken broth
2 (4 oz) cans green chilies
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp pepper
Bring to a boil, then simmer for 30 min

Before serving, remove from heat and stir in:
1 c. sour cream
1/2 c. whipping cream

Business

December book: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

January chooser: Becca

November Meeting

Discussion

Micah: I thought it was very interesting how she kept her family going by writing her little things. It must have been that time period but I didn't find her little slogans very funny but what I did find funny was how many different, fake names she'd come up with. Including her own name with every initial from the alphabet. I got a little chuckle out of that. But I did appreciate that she was willing to do those things to help in such a poor situation.

Becca: I listened to the book on my long drives to and from Orem and liked it very much. When I first got it and read the teaser, I didn't know "Defiance" was the town in which they lived. My mind kept trying to grasp the context of the title, and I kept leaning towards "Defiance" meaning she defied her dismal circumstances and survived her difficult situation with ingenuity while maintaining her dignity. Even now that I know the "Prize" was winning the contests and "Defiance" the town, the title still holds the original connotation for me--- The prize of defying difficult odds.

Ann: I listened to it too and quite enjoyed it but right at the end when the narrator was describing her mom's wedding the boys were loud and I didn't quite hear everything. Was there some significance to the circumstances of her wedding/dress color that foreshadowed her future or gave insight to her personality?

Karen: I thought this was a very uplifting and encouraging book. I've never experienced hardships in that way and I admire Evelyn for keeping such an optimistic attitude despite her circumstances. She really loved words and putting them together. I especially liked how she said that swearing was the sign of a lackluster vocabulary and a stunted imagination. I agree! I also like how she encouraged her children to try new foods and believed it was a sign of intelligence if you were willing to try something new. In general, I thought it was a fun book.

Lisa: I have totally enjoyed the book. I agree with Micah that her entries a may be a little dated in the joke department. However, considering the thousands she must have written, she did pretty, darn well. (Are fake swear words a "sign" too?) I was pleased that her vocabulary only stumped me a couple of times. I just think she was an amazing woman with an equally amazing attitude and stamina. Ten children I could not do. I also liked in the afterward (haven't finished the book, but have read the afterward). So often we wish something different then what we have. In this case, Betsey wished it for her mom-- a better life. Then she thought maybe the life her mom had, though far from perfect, was still good in its own right. May we all look back on our own lives and feel the same. I just really admire that despite astounding challenges, Evelyn found joy in the journey- and taught her children to do the same.


Recipes

Micah: Rosemary Bread
(Before you make it, do a search on you tube to see how to do a "no-knead" bread. It's really easy.)

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
1 clove of garlic, crushed
1 ½ Tbsp olive oil
Mix together and let steep for 30 minutes or more.
In a bowl add:
3 c flour
½ tsp yeast
2 tsp salt
1 ½ c + 2 Tbsp water
Rosemary mixture

Stir together with a wooden spoon. Cover bowl and let rise 12-24 hours. Dump dough on flour coated board. Rub with flour and fold over twice. Cover and let rest for 15 min. Rub flour onto a cotton towel, place dough on towel. Shape dough into ball, place on towel, seam side down. Rub flour onto ball, cover with rest of towel. Let rise for 1 ½ hours.

After 1 hr, place in an oven proof pot with lid in the oven and preheat to 450 degrees.
Put dough in hot pot, seam side up, place lid on and bake for 30 min.

Becca: Persimmons

Ann: Creamy Cucumber Soup. It's only 173 calories per serving which can't be beat.
Ingredients
1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, diced
1 Tbsp lemon juice
4 c peeled, seeded and thinly sliced cucumbers, divided
1 ½ c vegetable broth, or reduced-sodium chicken broth
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp freshly ground pepper
Pinch of cayenne pepper
1 avocado, diced
¼ c chopped fresh parsley, plus more for garnish
½ c low-fat plain yogurt
Preparation
Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 1 to 4 minutes. Add lemon juice and cook for 1 minute. Add 3 ¾ cups cucumber slices, broth, salt, pepper and cayenne; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and cook at a gentle simmer until the cucumbers are soft, 6 to 8 minutes.
Transfer the soup to a blender. Add avocado and parsley; blend on low speed until smooth. (Use caution when pureeing hot liquids.) Pour into a serving bowl and stir in yogurt. Chop the remaining ¼ cup cucumber slices. Serve the soup warm or refrigerate and serve it chilled. Just before serving, garnish with the chopped cucumber and more chopped parsley, if desired.

Robyn: Boston Cream Pie
1 round yellow cake layer (8 or 9 inch)
1 c cold milk
1 pkg (3.4oz) Jell-O Vanilla flavor instant pudding
1 ½ c thawed Cool Whip
1 square (1oz) unsweetened baking chocolate
1 Tbsp butter
¾ c powdered sugar
2 Tbsp cold milk

Cut cake into 2 layers with serrated knife. (instead of this I put the batter into two round cake pans). Beat 1 cup milk and pudding mix with whisk 2 min. Stir in whipped topping. Let stand 5 min.

Stack cake layers on serving plate, spreading pudding mixture between layers.

Microwave chocolate and butter on HIGH 1 min. Stir until chocolate is melted. Add sugar and 2 Tbsp milk; mix well. Spread over cake. Refrigerate 1 hour. Refrigerate leftovers.

Karen: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
(I've been told this is a Weight Watchers recipe--you can eat double!)
1 box of Spice cake mix
1 15 oz can pumpkin
chocolate chips, to taste

Preheat oven to 350°. Mix together and drop into balls on greased pan. Bake for 15-18 minutes.

Business
November book: Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice & Redemption by Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton.

December chooser: Robyn

In the Beginning...

...there was a group of friends who loved reading and, let's just admit it, eating. So, they formed a bookclub and as the years passed, many came and went. Now eleven years (we think) later, a restoration has occured.

Although spread out in Utah and Idaho, the Bluestockings have come together via the world wide web to carry on their beloved tradition.

Here's how it all began:

Hello my bookclub friends!

I have desperately missed our monthly gatherings! Not just the delicious potluck dinners, but the always stimulating and entertaining discussions. So, after testing the waters with those of you at the Women's 5k in Boise last weekend, I have felt encouraged to propose the following. I'll try to keep it concise, so you won't give up reading!

Here is my proposed system (open to suggestions/changes):
*Each "meeting" will be held on the 1st of each month (If it falls on a Sunday, it may be delayed one day).
*The Bluestocking responsible for choosing the book will send an email on the 1st to everyone to start the discussion and also "tag" someone to be the chooser for the next month (I'll even try to remember to email the Chooser of the Month a couple of days before the 1st as a reminder).
*All other members may "reply to all" throughout the following day or two and share their thoughts on the book.
*In lieu of a potluck, anyone may include a recipe of what she would have brought, had we been meeting in person.
*I will even resume my duties as historian and compile everyone's comments and send out the minutes! (I'll warn you that they probably won't be as entertaining as if we had met in person).

Hopefully this covers it all! If you have any questions or suggestions, don't be shy!

So, without further ado...the book we will read for the month of October is, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio by Terry Ryan. And, I tag Micah to choose for November 1st.

Last but not least, these are some highlights from our dinner/game night last weekend:

Lisa: "I haven't read any of the Dan Brown books".
Everyone: "I thought you said 'damn brown books'"!

Jenn: "I started reading the Time Travelers Wife, but I lost it so I'm reading this [The Lost Symbol]."

Micah: "I don't like big groups of people".

Ann: "Whenever I send Robyn an email, it comes back to me".
Micah: "Oh really? Whenever I send one to her, she responds".

Lisa: "I've got computer literacy problems".

Micah: "It's hard to play to lose when you have such good cards".

Hope to hear from you all on November 1st! Happy reading!

Karen

THANK YOU KAREN!
By the way, I did not know my comment was funny.
And, Micah, you will especially appreciate this quote. "It's not so much that I don't like crowds: It's the individuals within the crowds that really get me." -- From the movie Ghost Town.
Sounds like a great book. And look at you Karen, right on time! It's October 1st!
P.S. Lisa: Don't forget to click REPLY ALL.

Jenn

OK, maybe you had to be there...but I'm totally getting a good chuckle out of our comments. Too funny!!

Thanks Karen for organizing this!! I'm excited for the revival and will happily take the tag for next month and run with it. :)

See you all in cyberspace. :)

Oh, and BTW, my sister and I have started a blog if anyone wants to read it. We're having a good time with it. It's called PantsThatFit.com

Micah

I'm in! --Going to order the book on Amazon in just a few minutes. Thanks, Karen for getting us started again!

Becca

Dear everyone,

I am highly entertained by your comments (Guess you DON'T actually had to have been there to appreciate this good humor. I feel like I was there already, just like when I heard the "Fellison's" story repeated over and over again enough to feel like I was there.) Looks like good old times together again with the Blue Stockings. I'm in, and will try harder than I did last time to actually read the book! I would love a conference call or chat session with everyone sometime, especially since I missed the ever-so-anticipated Women's 5K in Boise. Was everyone actually able to run/walk it even though we don't have Bluestocking shirts? (Or has someone stepped up to design those since I flaked out?)

Amy

Hey, Jenn, I just hit reply all and everyone's name popped up at the top of my email- imagine that!
I'm still here in Vegas- going home tomorrow. Tonight is the night the adults were going to stay up playing games, but our older boys are up with us. And I stay up late every night. Or get up late every night, and early, and in between. Oh good, someone else just sent our boys to bed so I didn't have to. Go Jolynne! She sees the value of adult bonding. And- what Grandma says is seldom questioned. Our last night in Vegas. Let the games begin.
Lisa
PS I guess this had nothing to do with book club. Oh well. I'm excited to read the book. There, now it's a bookclub message.

Karen,

What a great idea! I have missed catching up with you all and need an excuse to read more adult books! Ann (and everyone else) I have two email addresses ...
rgreen(at)slcpl.org [work]
sparrowlost(at)gmail.com

I recently switched internet servers and sparrowred(at)aaahawk.com is dead.
Looking forward to "seeing" y'all next month. Robyn